CBN Revokes Operational Licenses Of 4,173 BDCs Nationwide

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has revoked the licenses of 4,173 Bureau De Change (BDC) operators nationwide.

Ag. Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Mrs Sidi Ali, Hakama, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, said the action was in exercise of the powers conferred on it under the Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020, Act No. 5, and the Revised Operational Guidelines for Bureaux De Change 2015 (the Guidelines).

The list of affected BDC operators is available on the apex bank’s official website.

She said the CBN is revising the regulatory and supervisory guidelines for Bureau de Change operations in Nigeria.

Hakama said the affected institutions failed to observe at least one of the following regulatory provisions.

Payment of all necessary fees, including licence renewal, within the stipulated period in line with the Guidelines.

Rendition of returns in line with the Guidelines.
Compliance with guidelines, directives and circulars of the CBN, particularly Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) and Counter Proliferation Financing (CPF) regulations.

“Compliance with the new requirements will be mandatory for all stakeholders in the sector when the revised guidelines become effective,” she said.